Tuesday, October 18

Christmas Quilt-a-long Block!

I love the Christmas season and it always brings JOY! My block was fun and easy to make and as you read on, you will see how versatile it can be. The main fabrics that I am using for the blocks in the Celebrate*Christmas*Quilt-a-long are from Jacquelynne Steve's collection Joy*Love*Peace*Noel. I have step-by-step photos for you to follow and a pdf file for the letter patterns (posted in Step 9). Let's get started........

Step 1.
I used four fabrics for the pieced sections of this block.The center square is a mottled ivory fabric by Moda but you could also use a small print or check.

Cut one 6" center square

Cut two 4-7/8" squares

Cut one WOF (width of fabric) strip 1-1/2" wide, then cut into two 8" and two 10" pieces
Cut two WOF (width of fabric) strips 2" wide, then cut into two 10" pieces and two 12-3/4" pieces

Step 2.
Cut the two 4-7/8" squares in half so that you have four triangles as shown below......

Step 3.
Evenly position two triangles to each side of the square, pin carefully and then stitch and press.

Step 4.
Position remaining triangles, pin, stitch and press.

Step 5.
Trim this section to 8" square!!

Step 6.
Lay-out the pieces for the 1-1/2" strips.

Sew the 8" side strips to the center square section..........﻿

Then add the 10" strips to the top and bottom. Press.
Step 7.
Lay-out the pieces for the 2" strips.

Sew the 10" side strips in place............

Then sew the 12-3/4" strips and press.

Step 8.

When the pieced block is complete, trim the block to 12-1/2" square.

Step 9.
You are ready to add the words. I created a letter template so that you can create whatever message you wish on your block. You will find a pdf of this page here.

In my original block, I chose the word JOY.I plan to make four blocks for my quilt and each will have a different word. When I made my second block, I chose the word LOVE. I used scraps of red, green and blue fabric and ironed Heat 'n Bond Lite to the fabric, then traced my letters in reverse as shown below............

I cut out the letters, removed the paper, and positioned the letters. I then pressed the letters in place following directions on the Heat 'n Bond product.

Step 10.

All that is left to finish this block is to decide if you will stitch around the letters or leave as they are. I chose to a blanket stitch by hand on my JOY block and I plan to do the same on the other blocks that I make. I chose a color called "Mustard Seed" from The*Gentle*Art threads that is the perfect compliment to the fabrics I am using. You could also use fabric glitter around each letter that would really add a festive flair to the blocks. In addition to adding holiday words to your block, you could also add names of family members. If you don't want any words, then perhaps you could choose a scene from a Christmas or holiday fabric panel and fussy-cut it for the center square. You could use 5" charms and cut them into the 4-7/8" squares. You might find a holiday fabric that has words of greeting in it, that could be used for the 1-1/2" strips. The possibilities are endless when you change the fabric choice and color!

Hope you have enjoyed this tutorial for my JOY block. And now........I would like to offer a little JOY to someone who will win a sampler of the fabrics in Jacquelynne's Joy*Love*Peace*Noel fabric line. It will be similar to this one pictured below..........

Just leave your name and e-mail contact and I will draw a winning name on Thursday evening, October 20th at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy!Sandi

And the winner is.........Denise! And imagine my surprise when I clicked on her link and discovered the name of her blog....... Count*it*all*Joy!

What a great blog! I was searching for Halloween minis and your blog came up in my search. Good timing on my part, you had a great mini with instructions, and a giveaway.I will be a follower of yours from now on.

Thanks for the cute block pattern and the chance to enter your give away! I found your blog through Jacquelynne's blog...funny thing, I live in Minnesota and know exactly where Henderson is! We drive by the "exit" on 169 on our way to visit my grandparents in New Ulm. Love your blog for the local places I can get to! Thanks again.

Colleen and Ineke ... I have no way to contact you if you win. You need to include your e-mail address in your comment as your names do not link back to an e-mail link. If you do not know how to add your e-mail to your profile, please e-mail me at stitchinglegacy (at) gmail (dot) com and I will give you the info.

Love this block and hopefully I will get into this marvelous hobby. I am trying. I love all the quilting posts but only just starting something. I am going to try a turkey wall hanging for my first attempt. Wish me luck... Cheers! LJ

Oh! Oh! Oh! (Jumping up and down, waving) Would love to win some of Jacquelynne's Christmas fabrics! :) I've been to her site and drooled over them! Thanks for a wonderful block for us to make - simple but so pretty. And thank you for the letters and holly to use, too!

Welcome.........

I hope the stories and photos that I share will inspire and encourage your creativity and provide a pleasant little memory, too! Some days I'll write about quilting, some days about friends, places I've visited, projects, patterns, and more. I've spent more than 40 years stitching and creating and am enjoying this blogging journey that allows me to share my story with all of you!

Join my Seasons BOM Yahoo group......

The Gentle Art.........

has provided threads for many of the projects that I share on my blog. Check them out at www.thegentleart.com !!! I love their hand-dyed/over-dyed floss that is available in so many gorgeous colors and equally beautiful names. They add just the right touch to the pieces that I embroider or embellishments added to wool and applique projects!

Woolfelt Central........

Just click on the picture above and you'll find the source for every color of woolfelt for all your wooly projects.

More blogs at ...............

My favorite tunes.......

For a Visit to Henderson on the Minnesota click on the link below....

Sharing my Christmas thoughts here...

Just click on the sled!

A beautiful quote...........

Rae Ann over at Cutie*Pinwheel blog shared this quote on her blog last Thanksgiving. I love it and asked her if I might include it here on my blog. Permission granted, so here it is.........
"Gratitude left unexpressed is like living in a dark world. Light up your life by expressing the gratitude you feel in your heart... especially for others." Quote by Rae Ann

And this one is from me.......

"I love making happy happen!"

It was inspired by a news report that said Monday, January 17 was the saddest day of the year. I decided to make it happy by sending e-mails to my quilty friends. It was a way to get rid of the sadness and make me some "happy"!!

The more you give..........

I didn't write this poem. It was posted on the bulletin board at the company I worked at many years ago. I never knew who wrote the poem because it just said "author unknown". I just recently learned that the poem is by Helen Steiner Rice. I love her poems and greeting card verses. I should have known it was written by her. I've added the correct title and her name. There is a great deal of truth in the poem. I just like what it says........Give Lavishly! Live Abundantly!

The more you give, the more you get.The more you laugh, the less you fret.The more you do unselfishly,the more you live abundantly.The more of everything you share,the more you'll always have to spare.The more you love, the more you'll findthat life is good and friends are kind.For only what we give away,enriches us from day to day.